Street dust is a recurring problem in Finland in the springtime. The dust causes irritation to eyes, throat and noses. It is especially harmful for people with respiratory illnesses who in spring need to wear respiration filters when they are outside.
The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland organized a competition this spring called "Tune Your Respiration Filter" to remind people of the street dust problem.
“We wanted to encourage people to make a statement with their filters and make the filters unique”, says the organisations Director Mervi Puolanne.
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The Organisation for Respiratory Health also reminds that streets should be cleaned quickly in the spring. It would also be better to use non-studded winter tires in the areas where it's possible.
Air quality has improved in Finland lately but the street dust remains a problem. The sand that is spread in the winter to reduce slippery roads, is then released into the air during spring as dust particles. The dust is also coming from tires, vehicle brakes and exhaust gases as well.
Air pollution caused 1,600 premature deaths in Finland just in 2013.